Steering control for boats



Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE GORDON BAILEY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STEERING CONTROL FOR BOATS.

Application filed May 28, 1927.

This invention relates to devices for holding the tiller of an outboard boat motor in a certain position, and is designed to correct a condition of danger and inconvenience found in the operation of outboard motor boats, especially designed for remote control at high speed.

In the operation of such boat-s it is frequently necessary or desirable for the steersman to leave his position at the stern and go to the bow, in order to ballast the craft forward and thus provide draft for tractive purposes; otherwise the forward part of the craft is thrown out of the water and it is impossible to attain high speed. In order that the steersman may control the craft from his forward position, such boats are provided with a steering rope which usually extends to the bow where it can be pulled by hand or by a small steering wheel. Under such conditions, when the steersman leaves the tiller the boat is apt to run wild or change its course for various reasons, so that by the time the steersrnan reaches the bow gear the boat is off its course, which is unsatisfactory and often dangerous particularly with high speed boats which will travel a considerable distance during the time taken by the man to change from stern to bow.

The present invention is designed to correct this, and to that end I provide a cable of some sort having a yoke or loop which can be slipped over the tiller to hold it steady, and this cable is provided with coil springs which will yield to permit the tiller to be operated by the ordinary steering apparatus, but which when such apparatus is not in use will hold the tiller steady.

The invention will be understood by the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of the device applied to the rear end of a boat.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the device.

In the drawings, 6 indicates the stern of a boat which in the present instance is provided with an outboard motor 7 of a known type, which drives the propeller and also carries the stream line shaft housing, so that the boat is steered by swinging the propeller frame by means of the tiller 8. This structure is common in the art and requires no extended illustration.

The device invented by me consists of a chain or other cable 9 extending across the Serial No. 195,009.

stern and hooked at its opposite ends to screw-eyes 10 or the like in the sides of the boat. This chain is provided with a yoke 11 adapted to be slipped over the tiller 8 as shown'in Fig. 1. It is also provided with a turn-buckle 12 for adjustment and with coil springs 13 near the opposite ends there of. These springs permit the tiller to be swung in the usual way, to steerthe boat. Or they permit the boat to be steered by rope 14 connected to the steering frame and extending forward, as to a wheel atthe bow, (not shown). hen the tiller is swung one or the other of the springs will elongate to permit the steering action. When releases, or under normal conditions, the chain connection will hold the tiller in set position and so keep the boat on a straight course, as during the time required for the steersman to change his position from the stern to the bow. IVhen not in use, the yoke can be slipped off the tiller, or if desired the chain can be unhooked.

The device provides simple and convenient means for holding a tiller in set position, yet permitting the same to be manipulated or the boat to be otherwise steered.

I claim z- 1. A device for holding a tiller for speed boats, comprising an elastic cable connected at its ends to the sides of the boat and extending across the boat adjacent the tiller boats, comprising an elastic cable connected at its ends to the sides of the boat and extending across the boat adjacent the tiller, means connected to the cable to engage the tiller, and an adjusting device for the cable.

3. A device for yieldingly holding a tiller of speed boats in set position, comprising a flexible cable connected at its ends to the sides of the boat and extending across the boat adjacent the tiller and having means to engage the tiller, and provided with extensible'springs at opposite sides of the tiller.

4. A device for holding atiller in set po sition, comprising a chain adapted to extend across a boat adjacent the tiller, a coil spring adjacent to each end of the chain, and a yoke to engage the tiller, between said springs.

GEORGE GORDON BAILEY. 

